Magnetic field effects on coenzyme B12- and B6-dependent lysine 5,6-aminomutase: switching of the J-resonance through a kinetically competent radical-pair intermediate

The environmental magnetic field is beneficial to migratory bird navigation through the radical-pair mechanism. One of the continuing challenges in understanding how magnetic fields may perturb biological processes is that only a very few field-sensitive examples have been explored despite the prevalence of radical pairs in enzymatic reactions. We show that the reaction of adenosylcobalamin- and pyridoxal-5′-phosphate-dependent lysine 5,6-aminomutase proceeds via radical-pair intermediates and is magnetic field dependent. The 5′-deoxyadenosyl radical from adenosylcobalamin abstracts a C5(H) from the substrate to yield a {cob(II)alamin – substrate} radical pair wherein the large spin–spin interaction (2J = 8000 gauss) locks the radical pair in a triplet state, as evidenced by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Application of an external magnetic field in the range of 6500 to 8500 gauss triggers intersystem crossing to the singlet {cob(II)alamin – substrate} radical-pair state. Spin-conserved H back-transfer from deoxyadenosine to the substrate radical yields a singlet {cob(II)alamin-5′-deoxyadenosyl} radical pair. Spin-selective recombination to adenosylcobalamin decreased the enzyme catalytic efficiency kcat/Km by 16% at 7600 gauss. As a mechanistic probe, observation of magnetic field effects successfully demonstrates the presence of a kinetically significant radical pair in this enzyme. The study of a pronounced high-field level-crossing characteristic through an immobilized radical pair with a constant exchange interaction deepens our understanding of how a magnetic field may interact with an enzyme.